Integrated Pushback Guidance for Electric Taxi Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft pushback processes at airports are inefficient and unsafe, particularly in congested ramp areas, due to reliance on tow vehicles and main engine reverse thrust, which can cause ground congestion, potential collisions, and hazards from foreign object debris and jet blast.
Innovation Solution
An integrated pushback guidance system that uses monitoring devices and real-time data analysis to guide electric taxi drive system-equipped aircraft along an optimum pushback path, providing visual and audible signals to pilots and ground personnel to ensure safe and efficient reverse travel out of the ramp area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If tow vehicles are used to push back aircraft, then aircraft can be moved from gate to taxiway, but ground congestion increases and collision risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes tow vehicles from the pushback process entirely, allowing aircraft to move independently using their own electric taxi drive systems. This extraction of the external pushing force eliminates the need for ground support equipment during pushback, thereby reducing ground congestion and collision risks while maintaining or improving pushback speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The aircraft uses its own electric taxi drive system to perform the pushback operation without external assistance. The aircraft serves itself by generating the necessary propulsion force through the electric taxi motors, eliminating dependency on tow vehicles and ground crew for pushback execution.
2Ease of operation
If main engines are used for reverse thrust, then aircraft can move in reverse, but foreign object debris and jet blast hazards are created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal/mechanical reverse thrust system with an electric propulsion system. The electric taxi drive system provides reverse movement through direct electric motor propulsion without combustion, eliminating the generation of foreign object debris and jet blast while maintaining the aircraft's ability to move in reverse from the gate position.
3Reliability
If ground crew monitor pushback, then safety is improved, but operational efficiency decreases due to personnel requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a monitoring system with sensors and communication devices that provide real-time feedback during pushback operations. The system continuously monitors aircraft position, speed, and surrounding environment, providing automated safety verification and guidance to the pilot, thereby maintaining high safety standards while reducing dependency on ground crew personnel.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated pushback guidance system and method is provided for guiding pushback travel of electric taxi system-driven aircraft. The pushback guidance system may be integrated with existing ramp monitoring systems to monitor reverse pushback travel of pilot-controlled electric taxi system-driven aircraft along an optimum pushback path from a stand to a pushback end location. Visual signals relating to pushback travel safety as the pilot drives the aircraft along the pushback path are generated in real time by the system and transmitted to a range of display devices viewable by the aircraft pilot and airport personnel responsible for guiding aircraft pushback. The pilot may be guided by visual signals on only display devices or with guidance from airport personnel also viewing the visual signals on display devices to drive the aircraft safely in reverse with the electric taxi system along the pushback path to the pushback end location.